Interconnected ring network in a multi-processor system

ABSTRACT

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a system comprising a first plurality of processing cores, ones of the first plurality of processing cores coupled to a respective core interface module among a first plurality of core interface modules, the first plurality of core interface modules configured to be coupled to form in a first ring network of processing cores; a second plurality of processing cores, ones of the second plurality of processing cores coupled to a respective core interface module among a second plurality of core interface modules, the second plurality of core interface modules configured to be coupled to form a second ring network of processing cores; a first global interface module to form an interface between the first ring network and a third ring network; and a second global interface module to form an interface between the second ring network and the third ring network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/155,773, filed Jan. 15, 2014, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/753,091,filed Jan. 16, 2013, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/753,094, filed Jan. 16, 2013, the entire specifications of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a computing system, andmore specifically, to architecture of a multi-processor system.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in thissection are not prior art to the claims in the present disclosure andare not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

A multi-processor system generally comprises a plurality of processors.A multi-processor system can also comprise a plurality of caches. In anexample, a cache can be accessed only by a corresponding singleprocessor of the plurality of processors. In another example, the cachecan be shared, i.e., can be accessed by more than one of the pluralityof processors.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a systemcomprising a first plurality of processing cores, ones of the firstplurality of processing cores coupled to a respective core interfacemodule among a first plurality of core interface modules, the firstplurality of core interface modules configured to be coupled to form ina first ring network of processing cores; a second plurality ofprocessing cores, ones of the second plurality of processing corescoupled to a respective core interface module among a second pluralityof core interface modules, the second plurality of core interfacemodules configured to be coupled to form a second ring network ofprocessing cores; a first global interface module configured to form aninterface between the first ring network and a third ring network bytransmitting data between the first ring network and the third ringnetwork, the third ring network interconnecting the first ring networkand the second ring network; and a second global interface moduleconfigured to form an interface between the second ring network and thethird ring network by transmitting data between the second ring networkand the third ring network.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a methodcomprising communicating, by ones of a first plurality of processingcores coupled to a respective one of a first plurality of core interfacemodules, with the respective core interface module of the firstplurality of core interface modules, the first plurality of coreinterface modules being arranged in a first ring network; communicating,by ones of a second plurality of processing cores coupled to arespective ones of a second plurality of core interface modules, withthe respective core interface module of the second plurality of coreinterface modules, the second plurality of core interface modulesarranged in a second ring network; interfacing, by a first globalinterface module, between the first ring network and a third ringnetwork by transmitting data between the first ring network and thethird ring network, the third ring network interconnecting the firstring network and the second ring network; and interfacing, by a secondglobal interface module, between the second ring network and a thirdring network by transmitting data between the second ring network andthe third ring network.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a systemcomprising a plurality of processing cores; a plurality of coreinterface modules, wherein ones of the plurality of processing cores arecoupled to a respective core interface module of the plurality of coreinterface modules; a plurality of caches, wherein ones of the pluralityof core interface modules comprises or is coupled to a respective cacheof the plurality of caches; a memory; and a memory interface modulecoupled to the memory, the memory interface module and the plurality ofcore interface modules being configured as a first ring network, ones ofthe plurality of core interface modules configured to interface therespective processing core to the first ring network by transmittingdata between the respective processing core and the first ring network,and the memory interface module configured to interface the memory tothe first ring network by transmitting data between the memory and thefirst ring network.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a methodcomprising communicating, by ones of a plurality of processing corescoupled to a respective one of a plurality of core interface modules,with the respective core interface module of the plurality of coreinterface modules; communicating, by ones of the plurality of coreinterface modules coupled to a respective one of a plurality of caches,with the respective cache of the plurality of caches; and communicating,by a memory interface module, with a memory that is coupled to thememory interface, the memory interface module and the plurality of coreinterface modules being configured as a first ring network, ones of theplurality of core interface modules configured to interface therespective processing core to the first ring network by transmittingdata between the respective processing core and the first ring network,and the memory interface module configured to interface the memory tothe first ring network by transmitting data between the memory and thefirst ring network.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a methodcomprising communicating by ones of a plurality of processing cores witha respective core interface module of a plurality of core interfacemodules, the plurality of core interface modules being configured as afirst ring network, wherein ones of the plurality of core interfacemodules are coupled to a corresponding cache of a plurality of caches;receiving, by a first core interface module of the plurality of coreinterface modules from a corresponding first processing core of theplurality of processing cores, a transaction request to read data;checking, by the first core interface module, if the data to be read iscached in a first cache that is coupled to the first core interfacemodule; and while checking if the data to be read is cached in the firstcache, transmitting, by the first core interface module, the transactionrequest to a second core interface module to check if the data to beread is cached in a second cache that is coupled to the second coreinterface module.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a systemcomprising a plurality of processing cores; and a plurality of coreinterface modules, ones of the plurality of processing cores coupled toa respective core interface module of the plurality of core interfacemodules, wherein ones of the plurality of core interface modules isassociated with a respective cache of a plurality of caches, wherein afirst core interface module of the plurality of core interface modulesis coupled to a corresponding first processing core of the plurality ofprocessing cores, wherein the plurality of core interface modules isconfigured as a first ring network, wherein the first core interfacemodule is configured to receive, from the first processing core, atransaction request to read data, check to determine if the data to beread is cached in a first cache that is coupled to the first coreinterface module, and while checking to determine if the data to be readis cached in the first cache, transmit the transaction request to asecond core interface module to check if the data to be read is cachedin a second cache that is coupled to the second core interface module.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a methodcomprising communicating, by ones of a first plurality of processingcores coupled to a respective one of a first plurality of core interfacemodules, with the respective core interface module of the firstplurality of core interface modules, the first plurality of coreinterface modules being arranged in a first ring network, ones of thefirst plurality of core interface modules configured to interface therespective processing core to the first ring network by transmittingdata between the respective processing core and the first ring network;communicating, by ones of a second plurality of processing cores coupledto a respective ones of a second plurality of core interface modules,with the respective core interface module of the second plurality ofcore interface modules, the second plurality of core interface modulesbeing arranged in a second ring network, ones of the second plurality ofcore interface modules configured to interface the respective processingcore to the second ring network by transmitting data between therespective processing core and the second ring network; interfacing, bya global ring network, between the first ring network and the secondring network; receiving, by a first core interface module of the firstplurality of core interface modules from a corresponding firstprocessing core of the first plurality of processing cores, atransaction request to read data, a first cache being coupled to thefirst core interface module; and transmitting, by the first coreinterface module, the transaction request to a second core interfacemodule of the first plurality of core interface modules to check if thedata to be read is cached in a second cache that is coupled to thesecond core interface module.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a systemcomprising a first plurality of processing cores; a first plurality ofcore interface modules, ones of the first plurality of processing corescoupled to a respective core interface module of the first plurality ofcore interface modules, the first plurality of core interface modulesbeing arranged in a first ring network, ones of the first plurality ofcore interface modules configured to interface the respective processingcore of the first plurality of processing cores to the first ringnetwork by transmitting data between the respective processing core andthe first ring network; a second plurality of processing cores; a secondplurality of core interface modules, ones of the second plurality ofprocessing cores coupled to a respective core interface module of thesecond plurality of core interface modules, the second plurality of coreinterface modules being arranged in a second ring network, ones of thesecond plurality of core interface modules configured to interface therespective processing core of the second plurality of processing coresto the second ring network by transmitting data between the respectiveprocessing core and the second ring network; and a global ring networkconfigured to interface between the first ring network and the secondring network, wherein a first core interface module of the firstplurality of core interface modules is configured to receive, from acorresponding first processing core of the first plurality of processingcores, a transaction request to read data, a first cache being coupledto the first core interface module, and transmit, by the first coreinterface module, the transaction request to a second core interfacemodule of the first plurality of core interface modules to check if thedata to be read is cached in a second cache that is coupled to thesecond core interface module.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a systemcomprising a memory; and a memory interface module coupled to thememory, the memory interface module configured to control access to thememory, the memory interface module comprising a request combinationmodule configured to: receive a first memory access request to accessdata stored in the memory; receive a second memory access request toaccess data stored in the memory; based on the first and second memoryaccess requests, generate a third memory access request; and based onthe third memory access request, access the memory to read data from thememory.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a methodcomprising receiving, by a memory interface module coupled to a memory,a first memory access request to access data stored in the memory, thememory interface module configured to control access to the memory;receiving, by the memory interface module, a second memory accessrequest to access data stored in the memory; based on the first andsecond memory access requests, generating a third memory access request;and based on the third memory access request, accessing the memory toread data from the memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way ofembodiments that illustrate principles of the present disclosure. It isnoted that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logicalchanges may be made without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments in accordancewith the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a multi-core processing systemcomprising a plurality of processing cores arranged in a plurality ofring networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system comprising a global ring interconnecting aplurality of local rings.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example core interface module.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of contents stored in an entry of anexample distributed snoop filter.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example remote line directory.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate example read operations while a multi-coreprocessing system operates in a static mapped cache architecture mode.

FIG. 6E is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for a readoperation while a multi-core processing system operates in the staticmapped cache architecture mode.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate example read operations while a multi-coreprocessing system operates in a dynamic mapped cache architecture mode.

FIG. 7E is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for a readoperation while a multi-core processing system operates in the dynamicmapped cache architecture mode.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system for combining a plurality of memory accessrequests.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for operatingthe system of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a multi-core processing system 100(henceforth referred to as “system 100”) comprising a plurality ofprocessing cores arranged in a plurality of ring networks (a “processingcore” is also referred to herein as a “processor”). The plurality ofprocessors includes a first plurality of processors 120 a 1, . . . , 120a 4, and a second plurality of processors 120 b 1, . . . , 120 b 4. Inan embodiment, ones of the plurality of processors are coupled to arespective core interface module. For example, each of the processors120 a 1, . . . , 120 a 4, 120 b 1, . . . , 120 b 4 is respectivelycoupled to a corresponding one of core interface modules 122 a 1, . . ., 122 a 4, 122 b 1, . . . , 122 b 4. In an embodiment, each coreinterface module comprises (or is coupled to) a corresponding cache. Forexample, the core interface module 122 a 1 comprises a correspondingcache 124 a 1, the core interface module 122 b 1 comprises acorresponding cache 124 b 1, and so on.

In an embodiment, the core interface modules 122 a 1, . . . , 122 a 4are arranged in a first ring network 160 a (a “ring network” henceforthis also referred to as a “ring”), and the core interface modules 122 b1, . . . , 122 b 4 are arranged in a second ring 160 b. For example, thecore interface modules 122 a 1, . . . , 122 a 4 are coupled or linkedusing one or more communication links (along with various othercomponents of the system 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1) to form the ring160 a. Similarly, the core interface modules 122 b 1, . . . , 122 b 4are coupled or linked using one or more communication links (along withvarious other components of the system 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1) toform the ring 160 b. Each core interface module forms an interfacebetween the corresponding processor and the corresponding ring. Forexample, the core interface module 122 a 1 forms an interface betweenthe corresponding processor 120 a 1 and the corresponding ring 160 a,the core interface module 120 b 1 forms an interface between thecorresponding processor 120 b 1 and the corresponding ring 160 b, and soon.

In an embodiment, a global ring 160 g (e.g., illustrated using dottedlines in FIG. 1) interconnects the rings 160 a and 160 b. For example,the global ring 160 g forms an interface between the rings 160 a and 160b. The global ring 160 g comprises a global interface module 112 aconfigured to interface between the ring 160 a and the global ring 160g. The global ring 160 g further comprises a global interface module 112b configured to interface between the ring 160 b and the global ring 160g. In an example, the global interface modules 112 a and 112 b arecoupled or linked using one or more communication links (along withvarious other components of the system 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1) toform the global ring 160 g. To differentiate the rings 160 a and 160 bfrom the global ring 160 g, each of the rings 160 a and 160 b is alsoreferred to herein as a local ring. Thus, in an embodiment, a local ringcomprises (i) one or more core interface modules and (ii) at least oneglobal interface module (for example, to interface the local ring to theglobal ring). In an embodiment, a global ring comprises one or moreglobal interface modules to interface with one or more correspondinglocal rings.

In an embodiment, the system 100 comprises caches 123 a 1, . . . , 123 b4, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, ones of the processors 120 a1, . . . , 120 b 4 comprise (or is coupled to) a respective ones ofcaches 123 a 1, . . . , 123 b 4. For example, the processor 120 a 1comprises (or is coupled to) the cache 123 a 1, the processor 120 b 1comprises (or is coupled to) the cache 123 b 1, and so on. In anembodiment, the caches 123 a 1, . . . , 123 b 4 are, for example, level1 (L1) cache, level 2 (L2) cache, and/or the like. In an example, thecache 123 a 1 can be accessed by the processor 120 a 1 directly, forinstance, without interfacing with any of the rings of the system 100(for example, by bypassing any of the rings of the system 100). In anexample, one or more of the caches 123 a 1, . . . , 123 b 4 cache datafrom one or more memories of the system 100 (for example, memories 128a, 128 b, or the like).

In an embodiment, the caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 b 4 are, for example,level 1 (L1) cache, level 2 (L2) cache, last level cache (LLC), and/orthe like. In an example, the cache 124 a 1 is accessible by theprocessor 120 a 1 directly, e.g., by bypassing any of the rings 160 ofthe system 100. As will be discussed in detail herein, for example, thecache 124 a 1 is also accessible by the processor 120 a 3 via the ring160 a; and the cache 124 a 1 is also accessible by the processor 120 b 1via the rings 160 a and 160 b, and the global ring 160 g. As such, inembodiments described herein, access to any given cache in system 100 ishierarchical in the sense that the cache is accessible to any processorin system 100, whether directly or by way of communication over one ormore rings 160.

In an embodiment, each of the rings 160 a and 160 b comprises one ormore corresponding memory interface modules. For example, the ring 160 acomprises a memory interface module 126 a, and the ring 160 b comprisesa memory interface module 126 b. The memory interface modules 126 a and126 b are respectively coupled to memories 128 a and 128 b. The memoryinterface module 126 a forms an interface between the memory 128 a andthe ring 160 a, and the memory interface module 126 b forms an interfacebetween the memory 128 b and the ring 160 b. Ones of the memories 128 a,128 b are, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a double data ratesynchronous dynamic random-access memory (DDR SDRAM), or the like. In anembodiment, the caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 b 3 selectively cache datafrom the memories 128 a and 128 b, as will be discussed in detail hereinbelow. In an embodiment, data of, for example, a first memory address ofthe memory 128 a can be cached in one or more caches of the local rings160 a and/or 160 b, as will be discussed in detail herein below.

In an embodiment, the system 100 further comprises one or moreinput/output (I/O) interface modules. For example, the global ring 160 gcomprises I/O interface modules 114 g 1 and 114 g 2. Although notillustrated in FIG. 1, in an embodiment, one or both of the local rings160 a and 160 b also comprise one or more corresponding I/O interfacemodules. In an embodiment, an I/O interface module forms an interfacebetween the associated ring and one or more I/O devices. For example,the I/O interface module 114 g 1 forms an interface between the globalring 160 g and one or more I/O devices 118 (e.g., one or more I/Operipheral devices). In another example, the I/O interface module 114 g2 forms an interface between the global ring 160 g and a memorymanagement unit 119. The memory management unit 119 is, for example, avirtual memory system architect (VMSA) component that translates andexhibits security protection on I/O transactions. In an example, thevirtual memory system architect (VMSA) component translates addressesbetween a virtual address space and a physical space, and/or exhibitssecurity protection. In an example, the memory management unit 119 iscoupled to one or more I/O devices (for example, one or more I/Odevices, labeled as I/O devices 119 a in FIG. 1), and exchanges datawith the I/O devices 119 a, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Unless otherwise mentioned and for the purposes of this disclosure, aninterface module refers to one of a core interface module, a globalinterface module, a memory interface module, and/or an I/O interfacemodule.

Unless otherwise indicated, a cluster refers to a corresponding localring and various components associated with the local ring. For example,a first cluster refers to the local ring 160 a, and various componentsassociated with the local ring 160 a (for example, the core interfacemodules 122 a 1, . . . , 122 a 4, the processors 120 a 1, . . . , 120 a4, the memory interface module 126 a coupled to the local ring 160 a,the memory 128 a coupled to the memory interface module 126 a, and thelike). Similarly, a second cluster refers to the local ring 160 b, andvarious components associated with the local ring 160 b (i.e., the coreinterface modules 122 b 1, . . . , 122 b 4, the processors 120 b 1, . .. , 120 b 4, the memory interface module 126 b coupled to the local ring160 b, the memory 128 b coupled to the memory interface module 126 b,and the like).

Although FIG. 1 illustrates each of the rings 160 a and 160 b comprisingfour respective core interface modules (and four associated processors),in another embodiment, one or both of the rings 160 a and 160 b compriseany different number of core interface modules (and corresponding numberof associated processors).

In an embodiment and as discussed, ones of the processors 120 a 1, . . ., 120 b 4 represents a corresponding processing core. However, inanother embodiment, a processor of the system 100 of FIG. 1 representsmore than one processing core. As an example, the processor 120 a 1represents a group or cluster of processing cores. In such an example,the cluster of processing cores (that is represented by the processor120 a 1) is coupled to the local ring 160 a via the core interfacemodule 122 a 1, and the cluster of processing cores adheres to protocolsassociated with the corresponding core interface module.

In an embodiment, the system 100 is located in an integrated circuitchip. For example, the system 100 is a part of a system-on-chip (SoC).In another embodiment, a first section of the system 100 (for example,various components associated with the local ring 160 a) is located in afirst integrated circuit chip, and a second section of the system 100(for example, various components associated with the local ring 160 b)is located in one or more other integrated circuit chips. In such anembodiment, for example, some sections of the global ring 160 g (e.g.,the global interface module 112 a) is located in the first integratedcircuit chip, while other sections of the global ring 160 g (e.g., theglobal interface module 112 b) is located in the one or more otherintegrated circuit chips.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates the global ring 160 g interfacing two localrings 160 a and 160 b, in another embodiment, the global ring 160 ginterfaces more than two rings. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates a system200 comprising a global ring 260 g interconnecting local rings 260 a, .. . , 260 d. The global ring 260 g comprises global interface modules212 a, . . . , 212 d, that are respectively interconnected with thelocal rings 260 a, . . . , 260 d. Although each of the rings 260 a, . .. , 260 d and the global ring 260 g comprises various other components(e.g., similar to the rings 160 a, 160 b, and the global ring 160 g ofFIG. 1), these components are not illustrated in FIG. 2 for purposes ofillustrative clarity. For example, the system 200 comprises a pluralityof processors, core interface modules, caches, memory interface modules,I/O interface modules, etc., although these components are notillustrated in FIG. 2. In the system 200 of FIG. 2, the global ring 260g is connected to four local rings 260 a, . . . , 260 d, by respectiveglobal interface modules 212 a, . . . , 212 d. Thus, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the systems 100 a and 200 are readily scalable, e.g.,more local rings can be interfaced with the global ring, for example, byadding corresponding global interface modules in the global ring.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in an embodiment, various components of thesystem 100 can issue a transaction request. For example, ones of theprocessors 120 a 1, . . . , 120 b 3 of the system 100 can selectivelyissue one or more corresponding transaction requests. Various types oftransaction requests can be issued in the system 100. For example, aread transaction request can be issued by a processor to read data froma cache or from a memory, a write transaction request can be issued by aprocessor to write data to a cache or to a memory, a cache transactionrequest can be issued by a processor to perform an operation on a cache(e.g., to evict a cache line from a cache, to update a cache line), andso on.

If a processor of the system 100 issues a transaction request, thecorresponding core interface module receives the transaction request andtransmits the transaction request to an appropriate destination via thecorresponding ring. For example, if the processor 120 a 1 issues atransaction request, the corresponding core interface module 124 a 1receives the transaction request and transmits the transaction requestto an appropriate destination, e.g., to another core interface module ora memory interface module in the ring 160 a, or in the ring 160 b. In anembodiment, the core interface modules 124 a 1, . . . , 124 a 3 performa coherency check on the transaction request issued by the processor 120a 1 (as well as any other processor), and/or track coherency informationof the transaction request. In an embodiment, the core interface module124 a 1 becomes a local interface module on the ring 160 a for atransaction request issued by the associated processor 120 a 1. In anembodiment, one of the core interface modules 124 a 1, . . . , 124 a 3become a home interface module on the ring 160 a for a transactionrequest issued by the processor 120 a 1 (or any other processor in thering 160 a). For example, the transaction request issued by theprocessor 120 a 1 has a source address mapped to the core interfacemodule 124 a 1, thereby making the core interface module 122 a 1 thelocal interface module in the ring 160 a for the transaction request.Thus, a core interface module, from which a transaction request isinitialized or issued in a ring, is the local interface module for thetransaction request.

A transaction request initialized in a core interface module can also bemapped to another interface module in the system 100. For example, thecore interface module 122 a 3 can be a destination of the transactionrequest issued by the processor 120 a 1, and accordingly, the coreinterface module 122 a 3 forms a home interface module for thetransaction request. For purposes of this disclosure and unlessotherwise mentioned, the another interface module (e.g., the coreinterface module 122 a 3), which forms a destination for a transactionrequest, forms a home interface module of the transaction request. Thus,in an example, a transaction request is initiated in a local interfacemodule, and is transmitted to a corresponding home interface module forhandling and processing (e.g., to ensure coherency of the transactionand/or coherency of the caches of the system 100). In an example, for atransaction request, a corresponding home interface module and acorresponding local interface module can be the same core interfacemodule. For example, if the processor 120 a 1 issues a transactionrequest that targets the cache 124 a 1 of core interface module 122 a 1,the core interface module 122 a 1 is both the home interface module andthe local interface module for the transaction request.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the caches 124 a 1, . . . ,124 b 3 selectively cache data from the memories 128 a and 128 b. Datafrom the memories 128 a and 128 b can be cached in the caches of thesystem 100 using static mapping or dynamic mapping. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 1, the memory 128 a is coupled to the ring 160 a,and the memory 128 b is coupled to the ring 160 b. In static mapping,data of a specific memory address of a memory (e.g., memory 128 a) canbe cached in specific caches, and the mapping is static in nature. Forexample, as will be discussed later, one or more tables (e.g., adistributed snoop filter and/or a remote line directory) identify thespecific caches in which the data of the specific memory address of thememory can be cached. In an embodiment, in the static mapping, a firstdata stored in a first address of the memory 128 a may be cached in morethan one of the caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 b 4 of the system 100, andone or more tables identify the caches in which the first data ispotentially cached. In an embodiment, there exists a static map of thefirst address to one of the caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 a 4 in the ring160 a, and to one of the caches 124 b 1, . . . , 124 b 4 in the ring 160b.

In dynamic mapping, data of a specific memory address of a memory (e.g.,memory 128 a) can also be cached in one or more of the caches 124 a 1, .. . , 124 b 4 of the system 100. However, unlike static mapping, thecaches which can potentially cache the data changes (e.g., is dynamic),and the above discussed one or more tables (e.g., the distributed snoopfilter and/or the remote line directory) does not necessarily identifythe caches in which the data is potentially cached. Static and dynamicmapping will be discussed in more detail herein below.

Core Interface Module

FIG. 3 illustrates an example core interface module (for instance, thecore interface module 122 a 1) of the system 100 of FIG. 1. Althoughonly the core interface module 122 a 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3, variousother core interface modules of the system 100 may have structure thatis at least in part similar to that of FIG. 3, in an embodiment.

The example core interface module 122 a 1 of FIG. 3 comprises the cache124 a 1, although in another embodiment, the cache 124 a 1 is externalto the core interface module 122 a 1 (e.g., directly coupled to the coreinterface module 122 a 1). The core interface module 122 a 1 furthercomprises a coherency control module 310 a 1. In an embodiment, thecoherency control module 310 a 1 ensures that the cache 124 a 1 iscoherent (e.g., synchronized) with other caches and memories of thesystem 100.

In an embodiment, a memory address in a memory of the system 100 ismapped to one or more corresponding core interface module of the system100. For example, each of the addresses of the memory 128 a is assignedto at least one of the corresponding core interface modules 122 a 1, . .. , 122 a 4. That is, the entire span of memory addresses of the memory128 a is assigned among the core interface modules 122 a 1, . . . , 122a 4 of the ring 160 a. In an example, if a first address of a memory(e.g., the memory 128 a) is mapped to a specific core interface module,the specific core interface module (e.g., the core interface module 122a 1) forms a home interface module of the first memory address. Eachmemory address of a memory has a corresponding home interface module.If, for example, the first memory address of the memory 128 a has thecore interface module 122 a 1 as the home interface module, then thecore interface module 122 a 1 stores various information associated withcache coherency of the first memory address of the memory 128 a.

Also, a specific address of the memory 128 a may be mapped to more thanone core interface module. As an example, a first address of the memory128 a is mapped to core interface modules 122 a 1 and 122 b 1 in anembodiment. Thus, each of the core interface modules 122 a 1 and 122 b 1form home interface modules for the first memory address. Furthermore,the core interface module 122 a 1 forms a local home interface modulefor the first memory address in the local ring 160 a, and the coreinterface module 122 b 1 forms a local home interface module for thefirst memory address in the local ring 160 b. As the memory 128 a iscoupled to the ring 160 a, the core interface module 122 a 1 also formsa global home interface module for the first memory address of thememory 128 a. For example, a local home interface module stores variousinformation associated with cache coherency of the first memory addressfor the corresponding local ring, and a global home interface modulestores various information associated with cache coherency of the firstmemory address for the entire system 100. In an example, one fourth ofthe addresses of the memory 128 a are mapped to the core interfacemodules 122 a 1 and 122 b 1, one fourth of the addresses of the memory128 a are mapped to the core interface modules 122 a 2 and 122 b 2, onefourth of the addresses of the memory 128 a are mapped to the coreinterface modules 122 a 2 and 122 b 2, remaining one fourth of theaddresses of the memory 128 a are mapped to the core interface modules122 a 3 and 122 b 3.

As discussed, in an embodiment, a first data stored in one of thememories of the system (e.g., one of memories 128 a and 128 b) can becached in more than one of the caches of the system 100. For example, afirst data stored in a first memory address of the memory 128 a can becached in one or more of the caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 b 4. Assumethat the core interface module 122 a 1 is the home interface module(e.g., the global home interface module) of the first memory address ofthe memory 128 a. In an embodiment, the core interface module 122 a 1further comprises a distributed snoop filter (DSF) 314 a 1. In anexample, the core interface module 122 a 1 being the home interfacemodule of the first memory address of the memory 128 a, the DSF 314 a 1keeps track of all the caches in the local ring 160 a that can store thefirst data of the first memory address of the memory 128 a. For example,if the first data can be stored (or are stored) in the caches 123 a 1and 123 a 3 of the local ring 160 a, the DSF 314 a 1 indicates that thefirst data associated with the first memory address of the memory 128 acan be stored by caches within the processors 120 a 1 and 120 a 3. Forexample, FIG. 4 illustrates an example of contents stored in an entry ofan example distributed snoop filter (e.g., an entry in the DSF 314 a 1of FIG. 3). The entry in the DSF 314 a 1 in FIG. 4 indicates that thefirst data associated with the first memory address of the memory 128 acan be stored by caches included in the processors 120 a 1 and 120 a 3(i.e., can be stored in the caches 123 a 1 and 123 a 3). This indicatesthat the first data of the first address of the memory 128 a are held bythe processors 120 a 1 and 120 a 3. Put differently, if a DSF isincluded in a first core interface module, then the DSF entry indicates,for a memory address for which the first core interface module is thehome interface module, one or more processors, where one or more cachesincluded in the one or more processors can cache the first data.

In an embodiment, for a specific memory address of a memory that iscoupled to a first local ring, the corresponding DSF only indicates theprocessors of the first local ring that can hold the data of thespecific memory address. For example, referring to FIG. 4, even if thefirst data of the first address of the memory 128 a can be cached bycaches of the processors 120 a 1, 120 a 3 and 120 b 2, the entry of theDSF 314 a 1 only indicates processors 120 a 1 and 120 a 3 (as only thesetwo processors are associated with the local ring 160 a). That is, inthis example, the entry of the DSF 314 a 1 does not indicate that thecache associated with the processor 120 b 2 can store the first data ofthe first address of the memory 128 a.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, the core interface module122 a 1 further comprises a remote line directory (RLD) 318 a 1. In anexample, the core interface module 122 a 1 being the home interfacemodule (e.g., the global home interface module) of a first memoryaddress of the memory 128 a, the RLD 318 a 1 keeps track of all theremote clusters in the system 100 that store the first data of the firstmemory address of the memory 128 a, in an embodiment. For example,assume the first data can be stored (or are stored) in the caches 120 a1 and 120 a 3 of the local ring 160 a, and in the cache 124 b 2 of thelocal ring 160 b. Then, the RLD 318 a 1 indicates that the first dataassociated with the first memory address of the memory 128 a can bestored in a cluster associated with the local ring 160 b. That is, theRLD 318 a 1 identifies one or more remote clusters (i.e., one or moreclusters that are remote to, or different from the cluster associatedwith the local ring 160 a) that can cache the first data associated withthe first memory address of the memory 128 a. FIG. 5 illustrates anexample remote line directory (e.g., the RLD 318 a 1 of FIG. 3). The RLD318 a 1 in FIG. 5 indicates that the first data associated with thefirst memory address of the memory 128 a can be stored in a cluster 2(e.g., which is associated with the local ring 160 b). Thus, the RLD 318a 1 in FIG. 5 identifies all the remote clusters (and the associatedremote local rings) in which the first data associated with the firstmemory address of the memory 128 a can be stored. It is noted thatalthough the cluster associated with the local ring 160 a can cache thefirst data associated with the first memory address of the memory 128 a,the RLD 318 a 1 does not identify the cluster associated with the localring 160 a—rather, the RLD 318 a 1 only identifies remote clusters (thatis, clusters that are remote to, or different from the clusterassociated with the local ring 160 a) that can cache the first dataassociated with the first memory address of the memory 128 a.

A first cluster associated with the local ring 160 a is a home clusterfor the first memory address of the memory 128 a (e.g., as the memory128 a is included in the first cluster). A second cluster associatedwith the local ring 160 b is a remote cluster for the first memoryaddress of the memory 128 a. The RLD 318 a 1 selectively identifies oneor more remote clusters for caching the first data stored in the firstmemory address of the memory 128 a, in an embodiment.

Cache Architecture

As previously discussed, the cache architecture of the system 100comprises a multi-bank cache (e.g., a plurality of cache slices,including caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 b 4), in which each cache can beaccessed by more than one processor. In the system 100, the access timeto different caches differs and depends on a requesting processor (i.e.,the processor that requests the cache access). For example, a time takenfor the processor 120 a 1 to access the cache 124 a 1 is relatively lesscompared to a time taken for the processor 120 a 1 to access the cache124 a 2. Similarly, the time taken for the processor 120 a 1 to accessthe cache 124 a 2 is relatively less compared to a time taken for theprocessor 120 a 1 to access the cache 124 b 4. The cache architecture ofthe system 100 is also referred to herein as Non Unified CacheArchitecture (NUCA), for example, as the time taken takes by ones of theprocessors to access ones of the caches is non-uniform.

In an embodiment, the cache architecture of the system 100 can operatein one of a plurality of modes. For example, the cache architecture ofthe system 100 can operate in one of a static mapped cache architecturemode and a dynamic mapped cache architecture mode.

In the static mapped cache architecture mode, a specific memory addressof, for example, the memory 128 a is statically mapped to one of thecaches in ring 160 a and to one of the caches in ring 160 b.Furthermore, in the static mapped cache architecture mode, the mappingof the specific memory address of the memory 128 a to the cache is inaccordance with the corresponding DSF and RLD residing in the homeinterface module (e.g., the global home interface module) of thespecific memory address. For example, in the static mapped cachearchitecture mode, if the core interface module 122 a 1 is the homeinterface module of the specific memory address of the memory 128 a,then the DSF and RLD residing in the core interface module 122 a 1identifies the specific caches in which the data of the specific memoryaddress can be cached. If a cache (e.g., the cache 123 a 1) can cachethe data of the specific memory address of the memory 128 a, then thecorresponding processor (e.g., the processor 120 a 1) is said to holdthe data of the specific memory address of the memory 128 a.

In the dynamic mapped cache architecture mode, a specific memory addressof, for example, the memory 128 a is allocated dynamically to any cacheof the system 100 for caching, in an embodiment. Thus, in the dynamicmapped cache architecture mode, data of the specific memory address ofthe memory 128 a can be dynamically allocated and cached in any cache ofthe system 100 (e.g., to any cache in the local ring 160 a and/or thelocal ring 160 b). In an embodiment, in the dynamic mapped cachearchitecture mode, the caching of the data of the specific memoryaddress of the memory 128 a by one or more caches of the system 100 maynot be in accordance with the DSF and RLD residing in the home interfacemodule (e.g., the global home interface module) of the specific memoryaddress.

The following sections discuss operations of the system 100 in thestatic mapped cache architecture mode and the dynamic mapped cachearchitecture mode in more details.

Static Mapped Cache Architecture Mode

FIG. 6A illustrates an example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in a staticmapped cache architecture mode. FIG. 6A is a simplified version ofFIG. 1. For example, in FIG. 6A, only one local ring 0 (e.g., which maybe any one of the rings 160 a and 160 b) is illustrated. Furthermore,for purposes of simplicity, in FIG. 6A, the processors of the local ring0 are labeled as P0, . . . , P3, and the respective core interfacemodules are labeled as CIM 0, . . . , CIM 3. Furthermore, each of thecore interface modules CIM 0, . . . , 3 is associated with acorresponding one of the caches 0, . . . , 3, as illustrated in FIG. 6A.In FIG. 6A, each cache is illustrated to be external to thecorresponding core interface module, although in another embodiment(e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1), the cache can be included in thecorresponding core interface module. FIG. 6A also illustrates varioustransaction requests transmitted between various components of the localring 0.

In FIG. 6A and various subsequent figures (e.g., FIGS. 6B-7D), issuance,processing and/or transmission of a transaction request (or data) isidentified by a number and a type of the transaction request. Forexample, each action in these figures is labeled using a correspondingnumber and one or more corresponding alphabets indicating a type of theaction. For example, FIG. 6A illustrates 0AR, 1AR, etc. The numbersindicate a sequence in which the associated action occurs. For example,the action associated with the number “1” occurs subsequent to theaction associated with the number “0”. If two actions have the samenumber, the two actions can at least in part occur simultaneously.

In the example of FIG. 6A, the processor P1 initiates a transactionrequest, which may be an address request to read data cached in a cacheof the local ring 0. For example, initially, the processor P1 issues anaddress request (labeled as 0AR in FIG. 6A) to the corresponding CIM 1.Thus, the CIM 1 is the local interface module of the transactionrequest. In the example of FIG. 6A, assume that the CIM 3 is the homeinterface module (i.e., the CIM 3 is the destination of the addressrequest, and is to process the address request). The address requestissued by the processor P1 has an address of the home interface module(i.e., identifies the CIM 3 as the home interface module). In a staticmapped cache architecture mode, this implies that the cache 3 associatedwith the CIM 3 can cache the data that the processor P1 wants to access.Accordingly, the CIM 1 forwards the address request to the CIM 2 (e.g.,illustrated as 1AR in FIG. 6A); and subsequently, the CIM 2 forwards theaddress request to the CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 2AR in FIG. 6A). Oncethe CIM 3 receives the address request, the CIM 3 determines that theaddress request results in a cache hit (e.g., illustrated as 3 cache hitin FIG. 6A). That is, the requested data is cached in the cache 3. TheCIM 3 access and reads the data from the cache 3 (e.g., illustrated as4RD in FIG. 6A), and the cache 3 outputs the data (e.g., illustrated as5DATA in FIG. 6A) to the CIM 3. The CIM 3 receives the data read fromthe cache 3, and transmits the data to the processor P1 (i.e., to theinitiator of the request), via CIM 2 and CIM 1 (e.g., illustrated as 6R,7R and 8R in FIG. 6A).

In FIG. 6A, the read request was a hit at the cache 3 of the homeinterface module. However, in another example, the read request may notresult in a cache hit in the cache of the home interface module. FIG. 6Billustrates another example read operation while a multi-core processingsystem (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in the static mappedcache architecture mode. In FIG. 6B, the read request results in a cachemiss in the cache of the home interface module. Similar to FIG. 6A, inthe example of FIG. 6B, the processor P1 initiates an address request(labeled as 0AR in FIG. 6B) to, for example, read data. The data to beread is stored in a specific address of the memory 0, which has the CIM3 as the home interface module. Accordingly, the CIM 1 is the localinterface module of the address request and the CIM 3 is the homeinterface module (i.e., the CIM 3 is the destination of the addressrequest, and is to process the address request). The address requestissued by the processor P1 reaches the CIM 3, via CIM 1 and CIM 2 (e.g.,illustrated as 1AR and 2 AR in FIG. 6B). Once the CIM 3 receives theaddress request, the CIM 3 determines a cache miss (e.g., illustrated as3 cache miss in FIG. 6B). That is, the cache 3 does not have a validcopy of the requested data.

In response to the cache miss in the cache 3, the CIM 3 then forwardsthe address request by the to the memory interface module 0 (e.g.,illustrated as 4AR in FIG. 6B). The memory interface module 0 reads thedata from the memory 0 (e.g., illustrated as 5RD in FIG. 6B), andtransmits the data read from the memory 0 to the processor P1, via theglobal interface module 0, the CIM 0 and the CIM 1 (e.g., illustrated as7R, 8R, 9R and 10R in FIG. 6B). The CIM 1 also transmits the data readfrom the memory 0 to the CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 10R and 11R in FIG.6B). Once the CIM 3 receives the data, the CIM 3 writes the data to thecache 3 (e.g., illustrated as 12W in FIG. 6B). Thus, in FIG. 3, inresponse to the cache miss in the cache 3 associated with the homeinterface module, the requested data is directly fetched from the memory0.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the local interface module and the home interfacemodule were in the same local ring. That is, the processor P1 of thelocal ring 0 attempted to read data cached in the cache 3 of the localring 0.

FIG. 6C illustrates another example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in thestatic mapped cache architecture mode. In the example of FIG. 6C, aprocessor of a local ring 0 reads data from a different local ring(e.g., a local ring 1). Similar to FIG. 6A, the system in FIG. 6C hasthe local ring 0, associated processors P0, . . . , P3, associated CIMs0, . . . , 3, associated caches 0, . . . , 3, and memory interfacemodule 0. In addition, FIG. 6C illustrates a second local ring 1comprising processors P10, . . . , P13, CIMs 10, . . . , 13, caches 10,. . . , 13, a memory interface module 1, and a memory 1 coupled to thememory interface module 1. A global ring (e.g., illustrated using dottedlines in FIG. 6C), comprising global interface modules 0 and 1,interconnects the two local rings 0 and 1.

In FIG. 6C, the processor P2 issues a transaction request to read datathat is stored in a specific memory address of the memory 1. That is,the processor P2, which is in local ring 0, attempts to read data storedin the specific memory address of the memory 1 that is coupled to thelocal ring 1. The CIM 2 is the local interface module, as thetransaction is issued in the processor P2.

Also assume that the data in the specific memory address of the memory 1can be cached by the caches 1 and 11. Thus, the cache 1 is the localhome interface module for the specific memory address of the memory 0 inthe ring 0, and the cache 11 is the local home interface module for thespecific memory address of the memory 1 in the ring 1. Furthermore, asthe memory 1 is coupled to the local ring 1, the cache 11 is also theglobal home interface module for the specific memory address of thememory 1. For example, a DSF maintained by the global home interfacemodule (i.e., the CIM 11) identifies that the cache 11 can potentiallycache the data of the specific memory address of the memory 1.Furthermore, an RLD maintained by the global home interface module(i.e., the CIM 11) identifies that the data of the specific memoryaddress of the memory 1 is potentially cached in caches of both thelocal rings 0 and 1.

Referring again to FIG. 6C, when the processor P2 issues the addressrequest to the CIM 2 (e.g., illustrated as 0AR), the cache 1 associatedwith the CIM 1 (i.e., the local home interface module) is checked firstto determine if the requested data is stored in the cache 1. Asillustrated in FIG. 6C, it is determined that the requested data is amiss in the cache 1 (e.g., illustrated as 2 cache miss in FIG. 6C). Asthe requested data is not stored in cache 1 of the local home interfacemodule CIM 1 of the local ring 0, the cache 11 of the CIM 11 (i.e., theglobal home interface module) is then checked to determine if therequested data is cached therein. For example, the transaction requestis transmitted from the CIM 1 to the CIM 11 via the CIM 0, the globalinterface module 0, the global interface module 1, and the CIM 10 (e.g.,illustrated as 3AR, . . . , 7AR in FIG. 6C).

In the example of FIG. 6C, the transaction request also results in acache miss in cache 11 of the global home interface module CIM 11.Accordingly, the transaction request is transmitted to the memoryinterface module 1, e.g., to fetch the requested data from the memory 1(e.g., illustrated as 9AR, . . . , 12RD in FIG. 6C). Once the data isread by the memory interface module 1 from the memory 1, the requesteddata is transmitted to the processor P2 via the global interface modules1 and 0, and the CIMs 0, 1 and 2 (e.g., illustrated as 14R, . . . , 19Rin FIG. 6C). In an embodiment, the data read from the memory 1 may alsobe transmitted to one or both of the caches 1 and 11 (i.e., to thecaches associated with the local and global home interface module), forcaching the data (e.g., caching of the data in the cache 1 isillustrated as 18W in FIG. 6C).

It is noted that in FIG. 6C, 18W indicates transmitting the data fromthe CIM 1 to the cache 1, and 18R indicates transmitting the data fromthe CIM 1 to the CIM 2. Both these actions having the same numerical“18” indicates that these two actions can be performed at least in partsimultaneously.

FIG. 6D illustrates another example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in thestatic mapped cache architecture mode. The system architecture of FIG.6D is similar to that of FIG. 6C. For example, both FIGS. 6C and 6Dillustrate the two local rings 0 and 1, various components associatedwith the local ring, and the global ring connecting the two local rings.

In FIG. 6D, the processor P2 issues a transaction request to read datathat is stored in a specific memory address of the memory 0. That is,the processor P2, which is in local ring 0, attempts to read data storedin the specific memory address of the memory 0 that is also coupled tothe local ring 0. The CIM 2 is the local interface module, as thetransaction is issued in the processor P2.

In the example of FIG. 6D, assume that the data in the specific memoryaddress of the memory 0 can be cached by the caches 1 and 11. Thus, theCIM 1 is the local home interface module in the local ring 0 for thespecific memory address of the memory 0, and the CIM 11 is the localhome interface module in the local ring 1 for the specific memoryaddress of the memory 0. Furthermore, as the memory 0 is coupled to thelocal ring 0, the CIM 1 is also the global home interface module for thespecific memory address of the memory 0. An RLD maintained by the globalhome interface module (i.e., the CIM 1) identifies that the data of thespecific memory address of the memory 0 is potentially cached in cachesof the local ring 1.

In FIG. 6D, when the processor P2 issues the address request to the CIM2 (e.g., illustrated as 0AR), the cache 1 associated with the CIM 1(i.e., the global home interface module) is checked first to determineif the requested data is stored in the cache 1. As illustrated in FIG.6D, it is determined that the requested data is a miss in the cache 1(e.g., illustrated as 2 cache miss in FIG. 6D). As the requested data isnot stored in cache 1 of the global home interface module CIM 1 of thelocal ring 0, the RLD included in the CIM 1 is looked up to check if therequested data is cached in a cache of a remote local ring. In theexample of FIG. 6D, the RLD of CIM1 returns a HIT (illustrated as 2RLDhit in FIG. 6D) and points to the local ring 1. Accordingly, the cache11 of the CIM 11 (i.e., the local home interface module in the localring 1) is then checked to determine if the requested data is cachedtherein. For example, the transaction request is transmitted from theCIM 1 to the CIM 11 via the CIM 0, the global interface modules 0 and 1,and the CIM 10 (e.g., illustrated as 3AR, . . . , 7AR in FIG. 6D). Inthe example of FIG. 6D, the transaction request results in a cache hitin cache 11 of the local home interface module CIM 11 of the local ring1 (e.g., illustrated as 8 cache hit in FIG. 6D). The requested data isread by the CIM 11 from the cache 11 (e.g., illustrated as 9RD and10DATA in FIG. 6D). Subsequently, the data read from the cache 11 istransmitted from the CIM 11 to the processor P2, as illustrated in FIG.6D (e.g., illustrated as 11R, . . . , 17R in FIG. 6D). Also, when theCIM 1 receives the data read from the cache 11, in an embodiment, theCIM 1 may also store the data in the cache 1 (e.g., illustrated as 16Win FIG. 6D). It is to be noted that in FIG. 6D, 16W indicatestransmitting the data from the CIM 1 to the cache 1, and 16R indicatestransmitting the data from the CIM 1 to the CIM 2. Both these actionshaving the same numerical “16” indicates that these two actions areperformed at least in part simultaneously, in an embodiment.

FIG. 6E is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 650 for a readoperation while a multi-core processing system (e.g., the systemsillustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D) operates in the static mapped cachearchitecture mode. Referring to FIGS. 6A-6E, at 654, ones of a firstplurality of processing cores (e.g., processors P0, . . . , P3) coupledto a respective one of a first plurality of core interface modules(e.g., CIMs 0, . . . , 3) communicates with the respective coreinterface module of the first plurality of core interface modules, thefirst plurality of core interface modules being arranged in a first ringnetwork (e.g., local ring 0); ones of a second plurality of processingcores (e.g., processors P10, . . . , P13) coupled to a respective onesof a second plurality of core interface modules (e.g., CIMs 10, . . . ,13) communicates with the respective core interface module of the secondplurality of core interface modules, the second plurality of coreinterface modules being arranged in a second ring network (e.g., localring 1); and a global ring network interfaces between the first ringnetwork and the second ring network.

At 658, a first core interface module (e.g., CIM 2 of FIG. 6C) of thefirst plurality of core interface modules receives from a correspondingfirst processing core (e.g., processor P2) of the first plurality ofprocessing cores receives a transaction request to read data, a firstcache (e.g., cache 2) being coupled to the first core interface module.

At 662, the first core interface module transmits the transactionrequest to a second core interface module (e.g., CIM 1, which is thelocal home interface module in the first ring network) of the firstplurality of core interface modules to check if the data to be read iscached in a second cache (e.g., cache 1) that is coupled to the secondcore interface module.

At 666, it is determined that the data to be read is not cached in thesecond cache (e.g., illustrated as 2 cache miss in FIG. 6C), and ispotentially cached in a third cache of the second ring network (e.g.,based on an RLD hit); and in response to determining that the data to beread is not cached in the second cache (and is potentially cached in athird cache of the second ring network), the second core interfacemodule transmits the transaction request to a third core interfacemodule (e.g., CIM 11 of FIG. 6C, which is the local home interfacemodule in the second ring network) of the second plurality of coreinterface modules to check if the data to be read is cached in the thirdcache (e.g., cache 11) that is coupled to the third core interfacemodule.

At 670, its is determined that the data to be read is not cached in thethird cache (e.g., illustrated as 8 cache miss in FIG. 6C); and inresponse to determining that the data to be read is not cached in thethird cache, the transaction request is transmitted to a memoryinterface module (e.g., memory interface module 1) to fetch the datafrom a memory (e.g., memory 1) that is coupled to the memory interfacemodule.

Dynamic Mapped Cache Architecture Mode

As previously discussed, in the static mapped cache architecture mode,for a specific memory address of, for example, the memory 128 a ofsystem 100, a corresponding DSF keeps track of the caches included inthe corresponding processors (e.g., caches 123 a 1, . . . , 123 a 4 ofFIG. 1); and a corresponding RLD keeps track of the caches included inone or more remote rings (e.g., RLDs of CIM0, . . . , CIM3 keeps trackof caches in the CIMS of the local ring 1, i.e., CIM10, . . . , CIM13).Accordingly, in the static mapped cache architecture mode, as discussedwith respect to FIGS. 6A-6D, caches associated with the homeinterference modules (e.g., one or more local and global homeinterference modules), or any other cache as indicated in thecorresponding DSF and/or the RLD, are checked to determine if a datarequested by a processor is cached. That is, in the static mapped cachearchitecture mode, a transaction checks a pre-determined number ofcaches (e.g., based on the corresponding DSF and/or the RLD) todetermine if the data requested is cached in any of these caches. If thedata requested by is not cached in any of these caches, the data isfetched from the memory, in an embodiment.

In contrast, in the dynamic mapped cache architecture mode, for aspecific memory address of, for example, the memory 128 a of system 100,the caches attached to the CIM (e.g., caches 124 a 1, . . . , 124 b 3 inFIG. 1) can hold data that is not tracked by the corresponding DSF andRLD of same node. For example, in the dynamic mapped cache architecturemode, one or more caches dynamically caches the data of the specificmemory address of the memory 128 a, while the RLD and DSF tracking thesame data can be in a different CIM. To locate a cached data, in thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode, when a processor requests dataof a specific memory address of, for example, the memory 128 a, thecaches associated with the local interface module and the home interfacemodules are checked first. If the requested data is not stored in thesecaches, any other number of caches in the system can also be checked todetermine if any of these other caches have cached the requested data.The dynamic mapped cache architecture mode is discussed in detail hereinbelow.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in a dynamicmapped cache architecture mode. The architecture presented in FIG. 7A issimilar to FIG. 6A. For example, FIG. 7A illustrates only one local ring0 (e.g., any one of the rings 160 a and 160 b) comprising processors P0,. . . , P3, core interface modules CIM 0, . . . , CIM 3, caches 0, . . ., 3, the memory interface module 0, and the memory 0.

In the example of FIG. 7A, the processor P1 initiates an address requestto, for example, read data of a specific memory address of the memory 0,which may be cached in one of the caches of the local ring 0. Forexample, initially, the processor P1 issues an address request (labeledas 0AR in FIG. 7A) to the corresponding CIM 1. Thus, the CIM 1 is thelocal interface module of the transaction request. In the example ofFIG. 7A, assume that the CIM 3 is the home interface module of thetransaction request (i.e., i.e. the DSF and RLD that track the addressof the transaction are in CIM3).

In dynamic mapped cache architecture mode, the data requested by theprocessor P1 may, with relatively high probability, be cached in thecaches associated with the local interface module and/or the homeinterface module. For example, in an embodiment, a heuristic algorithmattempts to ensure that the data, which is to be likely requested by aprocessor, is cached in the cache coupled to the processor or in a cacheof the associated home interface module. The heuristic algorithm, forexample, is based on past data requested by the processor, a priorknowledge about which application runs on which processor (and whichprocessor may request data), and/or the like. For example, the datarequested by the processor P1 may, with relatively high probability, becached in the cache 1; and when a data is found to be shared by multipleprocessors, the data may be cached with relatively high priority in thecache of the home interface module (e.g., cache 3 of the CIM 3). Forexample, the data requested by the processor P1 may, with relativelyhigh probability, be cached in the caches 1 and 3. Accordingly, thecache 1 (associated with the local CIM 1) and cache 3 (associated withthe home interface module CIM 3) are checked first to determine if thedata requested by the processor P1 is cached in one of the caches 1 and3.

Accordingly, once the CIM 1 receives the address request, the CIM 1determines whether the address request is a cache hit or a cache miss inthe cache 1. In the example of FIG. 7A, the address request results in acache hit in the cache 1 (e.g., illustrated as 1 cache hit in FIG. 7A).While the CIM 1 determines whether the address request is a cache hit ora cache miss in the cache 1, the CIM 1 also at least partiallysimultaneously transmits the address request to the home interfacemodule CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 1AR and 2AR in FIG. 7A). Thus, inFIG. 7A, the CIM 1 transmits the address request to the CIM 3irrespective of whether the address request results in a cache hit or acache miss in the cache 1. For example, the CIM 1 transmits the addressrequest to the CIM 3, while the CIM 1 checks to determine if the addressrequest results in a cache hit in the cache 1.

Also, the address request results in a cache miss, an RLD miss and a DSFmiss in CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 3 cache miss, 3 DSF miss, 3 RLD missin FIG. 7A). The CIM 3 transmits a response to the CIM 1 (e.g.,illustrated as 4Resp and 5Resp in FIG. 7A), indicating that the addressrequest resulted in a cache miss in the cache 3. As the address requestresults in a cache hit in the cache 1, the CIM 1 reads the requesteddata from the cache 1 (e.g., illustrated as 2RD and 3DATA in FIG. 7A).Prior to, subsequent to or while the CIM 1 receives the response fromthe CIM 3 indicating the cache miss in the cache 3, the CIM 1 transmitsthe requested data, read from the cache 1, to the processor P1. In theexample of FIG. 7, subsequent to the CIM 1 receiving the response fromthe CIM 3 indicating the cache miss in the cache 3, the CIM 1 transmitsthe requested data, read from the cache 1, to the processor P1 (e.g.,illustrated as 6R in FIG. 7A).

FIG. 7B illustrates another example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode. In FIG. 7A, the address requestresulted in a cache hit in the cache of the local interface module,while resulting in a cache miss in the home interface module. Incontrast, in FIG. 7B, the address request results in a cache miss in thecache of the local interface module, while resulting in a cache hit inthe home interface module.

Similar to FIG. 7A, in the example of FIG. 7B, the processor P1initiates an address request to, for example, read data of a specificmemory address of the memory 0. Also, similar to FIG. 7A, in the exampleof FIG. 7B, the CIM 1 is the local interface module and the CIM 3 is thehome interface module.

In FIG. 7B, initially, the processor P1 issues an address request(labeled as 0AR in FIG. 7A) to the corresponding CIM 1. Once the CIM 1receives the address request, the CIM 1 determines whether the addressrequest is a cache hit or a cache miss in the cache 1. In the example ofFIG. 7B, the address request results in a cache miss in the cache 1(e.g., illustrated as 1 cache miss in FIG. 7B). While the CIM 1determines whether the address request is a cache hit or a cache miss inthe cache 1, the CIM 1 also transmits the address request to the homeinterface module CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 1AR and 2AR in FIG. 7B).Thus, in FIG. 7B, the CIM 1 transmits the address request to the CIM 3irrespective of whether the address request results in a cache hit or acache miss in the cache 1.

In the example of FIG. 7B, the address request results in a cache hit inthe cache 3 (e.g., illustrated as 3 cache hit in FIG. 7B). The CIM 3reads the requested data from the cache 3 (e.g., illustrated as 4RD and5DATA in FIG. 7B), and transmits the data read from the cache 3 to theprocessor P1 via the CIM 2 and the CIM 1 (e.g., illustrated as 6R, 7Rand 8R in FIG. 7B).

FIG. 7C illustrates another example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode. As discussed, in FIG. 7A, theaddress request resulted in a cache hit in the cache of the localinterface module, while resulting in a cache miss in the home interfacemodule. Also, in FIG. 7B, the address request resulted in a cache missin the cache of the local interface module, while resulting in a cachehit in the home interface module. In contrast, in FIG. 7C, the addressrequest results in a cache miss in the caches of both the localinterface module and the home interface module, as a result of whichother caches of the local ring 0 are checked.

Similar to FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the example of FIG. 7C, the processor P1initiates an address request to, for example, read data of a specificmemory address of the memory 0. Also, similar to FIGS. 7A and 7B, in theexample of FIG. 7C, the CIM 1 is the local interface module and the CIM3 is the home interface module.

In FIG. 7C, initially, the processor P1 issues an address request(labeled as 0AR in FIG. 7C) to the corresponding CIM 1. Once the CIM 1receives the address request, the CIM 1 determines whether the addressrequest is a cache hit or a cache miss in the cache 1. In the example ofFIG. 7C, the address request results in a cache miss in the cache 1(e.g., illustrated as 1 cache miss in FIG. 7C). While the CIM 1determines whether the address request is a cache hit or a cache miss inthe cache 1, the CIM 1 also transmits the address request to the homeinterface module CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 1AR and 2AR in FIG. 7C).Thus, in FIG. 7C, the CIM 1 transmits the address request to the CIM 3irrespective of whether the address request results in a cache hit or acache miss in the cache 1.

In the example of FIG. 7C, the address request also results in a cachemiss in the cache 3 (e.g., illustrated as 3 cache hit in FIG. 7C), alongwith a DSF miss and RLD miss. The CIM 3 transmits a response to the CIM1 (e.g., illustrated as 4Resp and 5Resp in FIG. 7C), indicating that theaddress request resulted in a cache miss in the cache 3.

As the address request resulted in a cache miss in caches of both thelocal interface module and the home interface module, the CIM 1 thentransmits the address request to (i) one or more other caches of thelocal ring 0 (e.g., to caches of all the interface modules of the localring 0, except the local interface module and the home interfacemodule), and (ii) to the memory interface module 0. For example,subsequent to receiving indication that the address request resulted ina cache miss in the cache 3, the CIM 1 transmits address requests toeach of CIM 0 and CIM 2 (e.g., illustrated as 6AR and 6AR in FIG. 7C),to check if the requested data is cached in one or both of the caches 0and 2. The address request is also transmitted to the memory interfacemodule 0. In an embodiment, the CIM 1 initiates the transmission of theaddress requests to each of the CIM 0 and CIM 2 at least in partsimultaneously. In an example, the address request is transmitted to thememory interface module 0 via (i) the CIM 0 and (ii) the globalinterface module 0 (illustrated as 7AR and 8AR in FIG. 7C).

In the example of FIG. 7C, the address requests also results in a cachemiss in the cache 0 (e.g., illustrated as 7 cache miss in FIG. 7C),while resulting in a cache hit in the cache 2 (e.g., illustrated as 7cache hit in FIG. 7C). The CIM 2 reads the requested data from the cache2 (e.g., illustrated as 8RD and 9DATA in FIG. 7C), and transmits thedata read from the cache 2 to the processor P1 via the CIM 1 (e.g.,illustrated as 10R and 11R in FIG. 7C).

As discussed, the address request is also transmitted to the memoryinterface module 0 via (i) the CIM 0 and (ii) the global interfacemodule 0 (illustrated as 7AR and 8AR in FIG. 7C). In response to thecache miss in the cache 0, the CIM 0 transmits a response to the memoryinterface module 0, indicating that the address request resulted in acache miss (illustrated as 8Resp(miss) and 9 Resp(miss) in FIG. 7C).Also, in response to the cache hit in the cache 2, the CIM 2 transmits aresponse to the memory interface module 0, indicating that the addressrequest resulted in a cache hit in the cache 2 (illustrated as8Resp(hit) and 9 Resp(hit) in FIG. 7C). Based on receiving an indicationthat the address request resulted in a cache hit in the cache 2, thememory interface module 0 refrains from accessing the memory 0 to fetchdata corresponding to the address request (or from transmitting datapre-fetched from the memory 0 to the requesting processor).

In an embodiment, when the address request is transmitted to the memoryinterface module 0 (e.g., by the CIM 0, indicated by 7AR and 8AR in FIG.7C), the address request includes a number of responses that will followthe address request. For example, in FIG. 7C, based on the cache miss incaches 1 and 3 (i.e., caches associated with the local and homeinterface modules), there are two other caches (e.g., caches 0 and 2)that are to be checked. Thus, two responses indicating hit or miss(e.g., from the two caches 0 and 2) is to be received by the memoryinterface module 0, subsequent to receiving the address request. Thus,the address requested received by the memory interface module 0 indicatethat two responses will follow the address request. Once the memoryinterface module 0 receives the address request, the memory interfacemodule 0 waits to receive the two responses (e.g., and while waiting, inan embodiment, the memory interface module 0 can pre-fetch the requesteddata form the memory 0). If at least one of the two responses receivedby the memory interface module 0 indicates a hit, the memory interfacemodule 0 discards the address request. For example, in FIG. 7C, one ofthe responses (e.g., response from the CIM 2) is a hit—accordingly, thememory interface module 0 discards the address request. However, asdiscussed herein later with respect to FIG. 7D, if both the responsesare miss, the memory interface module 0 access the memory 0 (e.g., ifthe memory interface module 0 has not already pre-fetched the requesteddata), and transmits the fetched data from the memory 0 to therequesting processor.

FIG. 7D illustrates another example read operation while a multi-coreprocessing system (e.g., the system 100 of FIG. 1) operates in thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode. As discussed, in FIG. 7A, theaddress request resulted in a cache hit in the cache of the localinterface module, while resulting in a cache miss in the home interfacemodule. In FIG. 7B, the address request resulted in a cache miss in thecache of the local interface module, while resulting in a cache hit inthe home interface module. In FIG. 7C, the address request resulted in acache miss in the caches of both the local interface module and the homeinterface module, but resulted in a cache hit in another cache of thering 0. In the example of FIG. 7D, the address request results in acache miss in all the caches of local ring 0, as a result on which thedata is read from the memory 0.

Similar to FIGS. 7A-7C, in the example of FIG. 7D, the processor P1initiates an address request to, for example, read data of a specificmemory address of the memory 0. Also, similar to FIGS. 7A-7C, in theexample of FIG. 7D, the CIM 1 is the local interface module and the CIM3 is the home interface module.

In FIG. 7D, initially, the processor P1 issues an address request(labeled as 0AR in FIG. 7D) to the corresponding CIM 1. Once the CIM 1receives the address request, the CIM 1 determines whether the addressrequest is a cache hit or a cache miss in the cache 1. In the example ofFIG. 7D, the address request results in a cache miss in the cache 1(e.g., illustrated as 1 cache miss in FIG. 7D). While the CIM 1determines whether the address request is a cache hit or a cache miss inthe cache 1, the CIM 1 also transmits the address request to the homeinterface module CIM 3 (e.g., illustrated as 1AR and 2AR in FIG. 7D). Inthe example of FIG. 7D, the address request also results in a cache missin the cache 3 (e.g., illustrated as 3 cache hit in FIG. 7D). The CIM 3transmits a response to the CIM 1 (e.g., illustrated as 4Resp and 5Respin FIG. 7D), indicating that the address request resulted in a cachemiss in the cache 3.

As the address request resulted in a cache miss in caches of both thelocal interface module and the home interface module, the CIM 1transmits the address request to one or more other caches of the localring 0 (e.g., to caches of all the interface modules of the local ring0, except the local interface module and the home interface module). Forexample, subsequent to receiving the indication that the address requestresulted in a cache miss in the cache 3, the CIM 1 transmits addressrequests to each of the CIM 0 and CIM 2 (e.g., illustrated as 6AR and6AR in FIG. 7D), to check if the requested data is cached in one or bothof the caches 0 and 2. In an embodiment, the CIM 1 transmits the addressrequests to each of the CIM 0 and CIM 2 at least in part simultaneously.The address request is also transmitted to the memory interface module 0(e.g., illustrated as 7AR and 8AR in FIG. 7D). In the example of FIG.7D, the address requests also results in a cache miss in both the caches0 and 1 (e.g., illustrated as 7 cache miss in FIG. 7D).

As the address request results in a cache miss in all the caches of thelocal ring 0, the requested data is fetched from the memory 0. Forexample, while the CIM 0 checks for a cache hit or a cache miss, the CIM0 also transmits the address request to the memory interface module 0,e.g., to pre-fetch data, in case of a cache miss (e.g., illustrated as7AR and 8AR in FIG. 7D). Subsequent to determining that the addressrequest is a cache miss, the CIM 0 also transmits a response to thememory interface module 0, indicating that the address request is acache miss in the cache 0 (e.g., illustrated as 8Resp(miss) and9Resp(miss) in FIG. 7D). Similarly, the CIM 2 also transmits a responseto the memory interface module 0, indicating that the address request isa cache miss in the cache 2 (also illustrated as 8Resp(miss) and9Resp(miss) in FIG. 7D).

As previously discussed with respect to FIG. 7C, the address requestreceived by the memory interface module 0 in FIG. 7D also indicates thattwo responses (e.g., from CIMs 0 and 2) will follow the address request.Once the memory interface module 0 receives the two cache missindication (e.g., from the CIM 0 and the CIM 2), the memory interfacemodule 0 fetches the requested data from the memory 0 (e.g., illustratedas 10RD and 11DATA in FIG. 7D). The memory interface module 0 thentransmits the data fetched from the memory 0 to the processor P1, e.g.,via the global interface module 0, the CIM 0 and the CIM 1 (e.g.,illustrated as 12R, . . . , 15R in FIG. 7D).

Although FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate checking the caches of only the localring 0 to determine if the address request is a cache hit or a cachemiss, in an embodiment, caches of another local ring (e.g., a local ring1 interconnected to the local ring 0 via a global ring) can also bechecked, e.g., in case all the caches of the local ring 0 results in acache miss. Thus, in such an embodiment, access to a cache in the localring 1 is performed via the global ring. In an embodiment, a cacheassociated with a local interface module of the local ring 1 is checkedfirst, prior to checking other caches of the local ring 1.

FIG. 7E is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 750 for a readoperation while a multi-core processing system (e.g., the systemsillustrated in FIGS. 7A-7D) operates in the dynamic mapped cachearchitecture mode.

At 754, ones of a plurality of processing cores (e.g., processors P0, .. . , P3 of FIGS. 7A-7D) communicates with a respective core interfacemodule of a plurality of core interface modules (e.g., CIMs 0, . . . ,3), the plurality of core interface modules being configured as a firstring network, wherein ones of the plurality of core interface modulesare coupled to a corresponding cache of a plurality of caches (e.g.,caches 0, . . . , 3).

At 758, by a first core interface module (e.g., CIM 1 of FIG. 7D) of theplurality of core interface modules receives from a corresponding firstprocessing core (e.g., processor P1) of the plurality of processingcores, a transaction request to read data.

At 762, the first core interface module checks to determine if the datato be read is cached in a first cache (e.g., cache 1) that is coupled tothe first core interface module; and while checking if the data to beread is cached in the first cache, the first core interface moduletransmits the transaction request to a second core interface module(e.g., CIM 3 of FIG. 7D, which is the home interface module) to check ifthe data to be read is cached in a second cache (e.g., cache 3) that iscoupled to the second core interface module.

At 766, it is determined that the data to be read is not cached in anyof the first cache and the second cache (e.g., illustrated as 1 cachemiss and 3 cache miss in FIG. 7D). Accordingly, the transaction requestis transmitted to each of one or more other core interface modules(e.g., CIMs 0 and 2) of the first ring network to check if the data tobe read is cached in one or more other caches (e.g., caches 0 and 2)respectively coupled to the one or more other core interface modules.

At 770, it is determined that the data to be read is not cached in anyof the one or more other caches e.g., illustrated as 7 cache miss inFIG. 7D). Accordingly, the transaction request is transmitted to amemory interface module (e.g., memory interface module 0 of FIG. 7D) tofetch the data from a memory (e.g., memory 0) that is coupled to thememory interface module.

In an embodiment, the system operates in any one of the static mappedcache architecture mode or the dynamic mapped cache architecture mode.In an example, the static mapped cache architecture mode is relativelyless complex to implement than implementing the dynamic mapped cachearchitecture mode. In an example, a penalty for a cache miss in thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode can be higher in terms of powerconsumption and latency than a miss penalty in the static mapped cachearchitecture mode. However, in an example, in view of the abovediscussed heuristic algorithm, the dynamic mapped cache architecturemode can provide relatively better latency and better bandwidth comparedto the static mapped cache architecture mode. In an embodiment, whetherthe system 100 operates in the static mapped cache architecture mode orthe dynamic mapped cache architecture mode is configurable. For example,a parameter of the system 100 is configured to selectively operate thesystem 100 in one of the static mapped cache architecture mode or thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode. In another example, whether thesystem 100 operates in the static mapped cache architecture mode or thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode is based on configuration orproperties of various components of the system 100. As an example, ifthe system 100 exhibits a relatively small memory foot print perprocessor (and thus, exhibit high hit ratio in the caches) and arelatively high affinity between memory and the processor, the system100 operates in the dynamic mapped cache architecture mode. In anotherexample, if the system 100 has a memory that is relatively largelyshared between various processors, the system 100 operates in thedynamic mapped cache architecture mode.

Combining Memory Access Requests

FIG. 8 illustrates a system 800 for combining a plurality of memoryaccess requests. The system 800 comprises a memory interface module 808coupled to a local ring 804. The memory interface module 808 is alsocoupled to a memory 812. In an embodiment, the ring 804, the memoryinterface module 808 and the memory 812 are similar to the correspondingcomponents of the system 100 of FIG. 1 (or corresponding components ofFIGS. 6A-6D and 7A-7D). For example, the ring 804, the memory interfacemodule 808 and/or the memory 812 are respectively similar to the ring160 a, the memory interface module 126 a, and the memory 128 a of thesystem 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 illustrates only a part of the ring 804,and various components coupled to the ring (e.g., as discussed withrespect to FIG. 1) are not illustrated in FIG. 8. In an embodiment, thememory interface module 808 acts as a memory controller for the memory812, by controlling access to the memory 812. The memory interfacemodule 808 receives a stream of memory requests. Some of these requestsare memory access requests, e.g., to read data from various memoryaddresses of the memory 812. For example, the memory interface module808 receives a pre-fetch request 822 to pre-fetch data from an addressof the memory 812. For example, the pre-fetch request 822 is issued by aprocessor, prior to the processor actually needing the data. Forexample, the processor issues the pre-fetch request 822, speculatingthat the requested data may be needed some time soon. In an embodiment,the pre-fetch request 822 is a speculative read request, e.g., to readdata from the memory 812 based on a speculation that the data might beneeded in near future (for example, based on a processor processing afirst data, the processor speculates that a second data may be needed innear future by the processor).

The memory interface module 808 also receives a read request 826 tofetch data from an address of the memory 812. For example, the readrequest 826 is issued by a processor, when the processor wants to fetchdata from the address of the memory 812.

In an embodiment, the pre-fetch request 822 and the read request 826 canbe received from a single component (e.g., a processor). In anotherembodiment, the pre-fetch request 822 and the read request 826 can bereceived from two different corresponding components (e.g., thepre-fetch request 822 is received from a first processor, and the readrequest 826 is received from a second processor).

FIG. 8 illustrates the memory interface module 808 receiving thepre-fetch request 822 over a first communication link (e.g., from a leftside of the ring 804) and receiving the read request 826 over a secondcommunication link (e.g., from a right side of the ring 804). However,in another embodiment and although not illustrated in FIG. 8, the memoryinterface module 808 can receive the pre-fetch request 822 and the readrequest 826 over a same communication link (e.g., from a same side ofthe ring 804).

In an embodiment, the memory interface module 808 receives the pre-fetchrequest 822 and the read request 826 simultaneously. Alternatively, inanother embodiment, the memory interface module 808 receives thepre-fetch request 822 prior to receiving the read request 826 (e.g., thememory interface module 808 receives the read request 826 while thememory interface module 808 processes the pre-fetch request 822,receives the read request 826 while the pre-fetch request 822 is queuedin the memory interface module 808 for processing, or receives the readrequest 826 prior to fully executing the pre-fetch request 822 by thememory interface module 808). Alternatively, in yet another embodiment,the memory interface module 808 receives the pre-fetch request 822subsequent to receiving the read request 826 (e.g., the memory interfacemodule 808 receives the pre-fetch request 822 while the memory interfacemodule 808 processes the read request 826, receives the pre-fetchrequest 822 while the read request 826 is queued in the memory interfacemodule 808 for processing, or receives the pre-fetch request 822 priorto fully executing the read request 826 by the memory interface module808).

In an embodiment, each of the read request 826 and the pre-fetch request822 are issued to read data from a same memory address of the memory812. As an example, each of the read request 826 and the pre-fetchrequest 822 aims to read data from a first memory address of the memory812.

In an embodiment, the memory interface module 808 comprises a requestcombination module 832 and a priority assignment module 838. In anembodiment, the request combination module 832 determines that (i) boththe read request 826 and the pre-fetch request 822 are currently pendingin the memory interface module 808 for execution, and (ii) each of theread request 826 and the pre-fetch request 822 are issued to read datafrom a same memory address of the memory 812. In an embodiment, based onsuch determination, the request combination module 832 combines the readrequest 826 and the pre-fetch request 822. For example, the requestcombination module 832 generates a combined request 840 to fetch datafrom the memory 812, and reads data from the memory 812. In anembodiment, once the requested data is read form the memory 812, thememory interface module 808 transmits the data read form the memory 812to the initiators of the read request 826 and the pre-fetch request 822,thereby completing the processing of the read request 826 and thepre-fetch request 822. In an embodiment, the combined request 840comprises the read request 826, and fetching of data in response to thepre-fetch request 822 is not executed. In an embodiment, the combinedrequest 840 comprises a request to fetch data from the memory 812.

Thus, if the read request 826 and the pre-fetch request 822 were to beexecuted separately (that is, if the read request 826 and the pre-fetchrequest 822 were not combined by the request combination module 832),the memory interface module 808 would have needed to access the memory812 twice, to read the same data twice from the same memory address ofthe memory 812 (in other words once for processing the read request 826,and once for processing the pre-fetch request 822). However, bycombining the read request 826 and the pre-fetch request 822, the memoryinterface module 808 needs to access the memory 812 only once whileprocessing the read request 826 and the pre-fetch request 822.

In an embodiment, a request to access the memory 812 has a correspondingassociated priority (for example, a pre-defined priority based on a typeof the request). For example, a read request (e.g., the read request826) received by the memory interface module 808 has a first priority,and a pre-fetch request (e.g., the pre-fetch request 822) received bythe memory interface module 808 has a second priority. In an embodiment,the first priority is higher than the second priority. That is, if aread request having the first priority is residing in the memoryinterface module 808 for processing along with a pre-fetch request, theread request is to be executed prior to an execution of the pre-fetchrequest (e.g., due to the first priority being higher than the secondpriority). Thus, the first priority being higher than second priorityimplies that the read request has a higher execution priority comparedto the pre-fetch request.

As discussed, in an example, the read request 826 received by the memoryinterface module 808 has the first priority, and the pre-fetch request822 received by the memory interface module 808 has the second priority.In an embodiment, the priority assignment module 838 assigns a thirdpriority to the combined request 840. In an embodiment, the thirdpriority is a higher of the first priority and the second priority. Inan example, the first priority is higher than the second priority, andhence, the third priority is equal to the first priority.

In an embodiment, as a higher priority (e.g., the first priority) isassigned to the combined request 840, the combined request 840 isexecuted by the memory interface module 808 prior to execution of, forexample, various other pre-fetch requests residing in the memoryinterface module 808.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 900 foroperating the system 800 of FIG. 8. At 904, a memory interface module(e.g., memory interface module 808), which is coupled to a memory (e.g.,memory 812), receives a first memory access request (e.g., the pre-fetchrequest 822) to access data stored in the memory, the memory interfacemodule configured to control access to the memory; and the memoryinterface module receives a second memory access request (e.g., readrequest 826) to access data stored in the memory.

At 908, based on the first and second memory access requests, the memoryinterface module (e.g., the request combination module 832) generates athird memory access request (e.g. the combined request 840), by, forexample, combining the first and second memory access requests. At 912,based on the third memory access request, the memory interface moduleaccesses the memory to read data from the memory.

The description incorporates use of the phrases “in an embodiment,” or“in various embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of thesame or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,”“including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodimentsof the present disclosure, are synonymous.

Various operations may have been described as multiple discrete actionsor operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understandingthe claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should notbe construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily orderdependent. In actuality, these operations may not be performed in theorder of presentation. Operations described may be performed in adifferent order than the described embodiment. Various additionaloperations may be performed and/or described operations may be omittedin additional embodiments.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it is noted that a wide variety of alternative and/or equivalentimplementations may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown anddescribed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.The present disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, and articles ofmanufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claimseither literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. This applicationis intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodimentdisclosed herein. Therefore, it is manifested and intended that thepresent disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a plurality of processingcores; a plurality of core interface modules, wherein ones of theplurality of processing cores are coupled to a respective core interfacemodule of the plurality of core interface modules; a plurality ofcaches, wherein ones of the plurality of core interface modulescomprises or is coupled to a respective cache of the plurality ofcaches; a memory; and a memory interface module coupled to the memory,the memory interface module and the plurality of core interface modulesbeing configured as a first ring network, ones of the plurality of coreinterface modules configured to interface the respective processing coreto the first ring network by transmitting data between the respectiveprocessing core and the first ring network, and the memory interfacemodule configured to interface the memory to the first ring network bytransmitting data between the memory and the first ring network.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: a global interface moduleconfigured to interface between the first ring network and a second ringnetwork by transmitting data between the first ring network and thesecond ring network, the second ring network being separate from thefirst ring network.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein data stored in afirst address of the memory is cached in one or more caches of theplurality of caches of the first ring network.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein a first core interface module of the plurality of core interfacemodules is a home interface module for a first address of the memorysuch that the first core interface module maintains cache coherencyinformation associated with maintaining coherency of data stored in thefirst address of the memory, the first core interface module comprising:a table that identifies one or more caches of the plurality of cachesthat are configured to cache data stored in the first address of thememory.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein a first core interface moduleof the plurality of core interface modules maintains cache coherencyinformation associated with data stored in the first address of thememory, the first core interface module comprising: a table thatidentifies one or more processing cores of the plurality of processingcores such that one or more caches corresponding to the one or moreprocessing cores are configured to cache data stored in the firstaddress of the memory, the table being usuable for maintaining coherencyof the data stored in the first address of the memory among theplurality of caches.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second ringnetwork is configured to interface between the first ring network and athird ring network, wherein the plurality of caches is a first pluralityof caches, wherein a first core interface module maintains cachecoherency information associated with data stored in the first addressof the memory, the system further comprising: a second plurality ofcaches coupled to and associated with the third ring network, whereinthe first core interface module further comprises a table thatidentifies whether at least one cache of the second plurality of cachesis configured to cache data stored in the first address of the memory.7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first core interface module formsa home interface module in the first ring network for the first addressof the memory such that the first core interface module maintains cachecoherency information associated with maintaining coherency of datastored in the first address of the memory.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the memory interface module is configured to process memoryaccess requests to access the memory by a processing core, to read datafrom the memory by the processing core.
 9. The system of claim 21,wherein selectively ones of the plurality of core interface modules aredirectly coupled to the respective cache of the plurality of caches suchthat ones of the plurality of core interface modules access therespective cache of the plurality of caches by bypassing the first ringnetwork.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an input/outputinterface module configured to be coupled to the first ring network. 11.The system of claim 10, wherein the input/output interface module isfurther configured to form an interface between the first ring networkand one or more input/output devices by transmitting data between thefirst ring network and the one or more input/output devices.
 12. Amethod comprising: communicating, by ones of a plurality of processingcores coupled to a respective one of a plurality of core interfacemodules, with the respective core interface module of the plurality ofcore interface modules; communicating, by ones of the plurality of coreinterface modules coupled to a respective one of a plurality of caches,with the respective cache of the plurality of caches; and communicating,by a memory interface module, with a memory that is coupled to thememory interface, the memory interface module and the plurality of coreinterface modules being configured as a first ring network, ones of theplurality of core interface modules configured to interface therespective processing core to the first ring network by transmittingdata between the respective processing core and the first ring network,and the memory interface module configured to interface the memory tothe first ring network by transmitting data between the memory and thefirst ring network.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:communicating, by a global interface module, with ones of the pluralityof core interface modules, the global interface module configured tointerface between the first ring network and a second ring network bytransmitting data between the first ring network and the second ringnetwork, the second ring network being separate from the first ringnetwork.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: caching datastored in a first address of the memory in one or more caches of theplurality of caches.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein a first coreinterface module of the plurality of core interface modules is a homeinterface module for a first address of the memory such that the firstcore interface module maintains cache coherency information associatedwith maintaining coherency of data stored in the first address of thememory, the method further comprising: maintaining, at the first coreinterface module, a table that identifies one or more caches of theplurality of caches that are configured to cache data stored in thefirst address of the memory.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein a firstcore interface module of the plurality of core interface modules is ahome interface module for a first address of the memory such that thefirst core interface module maintains cache coherency informationassociated with data stored in the first address of the memory, themethod further comprising: maintaining, at the first core interfacemodule, a table that identifies one or more processing cores of theplurality of processing cores such that one or more caches correspondingto the one or more processing cores are configured to cache data storedin the first address of the memory, the table being usuable formaintaining coherency of the data stored in the first address of thememory among the plurality of caches.
 17. The method of claim 12,wherein the second ring network is configured to interface between thefirst ring network and a third ring network, wherein the plurality ofcaches is a first plurality of caches, wherein a second plurality ofcaches is coupled to and associated with the third ring network, andwherein a first core interface module maintains cache coherencyinformation associated with data stored in the first address of thememory, the method further comprising: maintaining, at the first coreinterface module, a table that identifies whether at least one cache ofthe second plurality of caches is configured to cache data stored in thefirst address of the memory.
 18. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: processing, by the memory interface module, memory accessrequests to access the memory, to read data by a processing core fromthe memory.
 19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:communicating, by ones of the plurality of core interface modules, withan input/output interface module, the input/output interface moduleconfigured to be coupled to the first ring network.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising: interfacing, by the input/output interfacemodule, between the first ring network and one or more input/outputdevices by transmitting data between the first ring network and the oneor more input/output devices.